Pocketed molded pulp receptacle



Oct. 7, 1947. w. H. RANDALL POCKETED MOLDED PULP RECEPTACLE Filed July 14, 1945 INVENTOR.

Wu Her H. Rondo" Afrorneg.

. ment of incandescent lamp bulbs.

Patented Oct. 7, 1947 POCKETED MOLDED PULP RECEPTACLE Walter H. Randall,-Waterville, Maine, assignor, by mesne assignments, to The Canal National Bank of Portland, Portland, Maine, a national banking association, and William B. Nulty, Portland, Maine, as trustees Application July 14, 1945, Serial No. 605,123

2 Claims. 1

This invention relates to packing material for protecting shipments of fragile articles against damage during transit.

For the purposes of this application, I shall discuss my invention in connection with the ship- It will be understood however, that this treatment is illustrative and not limiting and that the principles of my invention are applicable to the packaging of many other articles of general pear-shaped contour, such as radio tubes, lamp chimneys or the like.

The present method of packing incandescent lamp bulbs is to insert them singly into individual corrugated paper cartons of rectangular shape. The cost of the cartons is considerable, as is the labor charge for inserting the bulbs into them, and moreover if the bulbs are examined and tested at the time of sale to the consumer, the cartons have to be opened and the bulbs removed and replaced.

The main object of my present invention is to provide an inexpensive packing in which a number of incandescent lamp bulbs may be safely packed. Other objects and advantages will appear as this description proceeds.

In obtaining my objects I prefer to construct the pack as a sheet of molded pulp which, as

molded, provides a pocket section and an integral foldable cover section. The pocket section contains a number of individual open-top, closedbottom half-pockets arranged side by side with their major axes disposed transversely of the sheet.

The pockets themselves are of such design and so contoured as to fit and snugly retain a corresponding number of incandescent bulbs. Preferably, but not necessarily, the arrangement of the pockets is such that the reduced neck portion of one pocket lies opposite to the enlarged bulbous portion of the pockets next adjacent thereto, thus enabling the maximum number of bulbs to be packed in the minimum space.

Each pocket encloses approximately the lower half of a, bulb placed therein from above and each pocket moreover is so shaped and dimensioned as to position the reduced neck portion of the bulb a substantial distance above the plane of they sheet so that the tops of the necks of the bulbs will lie in approximately the same plane as the tops of the enlarged bulbous portions thereof.

By thus elevating the neck portions of the bulbs it results that when the integral, foldable cover section of the pack is overfolded upon the pocket section and fastened along its free edge to the 2 corresponding edge of the pocket section, the inner face of the cover section will contact the tops of the neck portions and the tops of the bulbous portions of all the bulbs andpress them firmly down into and hold them within their individual pockets.

This wedging action, however, may be obtained by omitting the integral foldable cover section and substituting therefor a separate, snuglyfitting, enclosure, since either form of cover will prevent the rounded bulbous portions of the bulbs Q from turning in the rounded bulbous portions of the pockets as bearings and thereby causing the neck portions of the bulbs to swing laterally and strike against each other during shipment.

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of a molded bulb pack for packing a number of incandescent bulbs, the pack comprising a pocket section and an integral foldable cover section, and being illustratedin its open position.

Fig. 2 is a cross section on approximately the line- 2-2 of Fig. 1, the pack being shown in full lines in its closed position, and this view further showing how the inside surface of the cover section when closed contacts the tops of the necks and the tops of the bulbous portions of the bulbs to press the same firmly down into their pockets, and,

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 but showing a modification wherein the integral foldable cover section has been omitted and a separate closelyfitting enclosure substituted therefor.

My pack is preferably made from molded pulp, and is especially designed for the shipment of incandescent bulbs.

In the form shown in Figs. 1 and 2 the pack consists of a molded pulp sheet comprising hinged pocket and cover sections l0 and II, respectively, which are coextensive with each other. Cover section II is adapted to be overfolded upon pocket section [0 along the indicated line of the fold it to provide a closed package which may be locked in any suitable manner. As here shown, it is locked'by means of one or more locking hooks F mounted on the free edge of the pocket section under which the corresponding edge of the cover section is adapted to be engaged when the cover section is swung from the ranged side by side between the ends of section III with their major axes disposed transversely assess-s of the sheet. The half pockets are contoured to snugly accommodate the bulbs placed therein and .are so arranged that the reduced-cradlelike neck portion is of one pocket is disposed opposite to the'enlarged rounded bulbous portion 16 of an adjacent pocket. The neck portions of 'the pockets are elevated a substantial distance down into the pockets of, the pocket section and its outer surface will aflord a convenient printing surface on which a trade-mark or other descriptive matter may be readily printed.

- shaped articles, comprising a sheet of molded pulp contoured to provide a number of indi- 4 viduai open-top closed-bottom halt pockets ar-' ranged side by side with their major axes disposed transversely oi and inclined to the plane of the sheet, each pocket providing aneck pot-- 1. A pack for incandescent bulbs or other peartion and an enlarged bulbous portion. and the In using this form of pack, the pocket section I0 is filled with its complement of bulbs I4 and the cover section II is overfolded upon the same and fastened in closed position. This brings the flat inner surface of the cover section into contact with the tops of the'tops of the neck portions and the tops of the bulbous portions of all neck portions being elevated above the-plane of the sheet a distance such that articles of a size to fit the pockets will be positioned in the pockets with the tops oi their neck portions and the tops of their bulbous portions in a plane substantially parallel to the plane of the sheet for contact by a c0ver.'element placed over the articles whereby the articles will be pressed down into and held within the pockets. I

2. An article container for articles of frustoconica1 shape, comprising a sheet of molded pulp contoured to provide a number of individual open-top closed-bottom half pockets arranged side by side with their major axes inclined to the bulbs so as to press the same down tightly into their pockets. Thus seated and held, the bulbous portions of the bulbs do not tend to turn in the rounded bulbous portions it of the pockets as bearings and thereby cause the neck portions Although this form of pack is primarily designed for use as a shipping container in which the lamps are packed at the place of manufacture, it may be also used as a carry-home packin which loose bulbs purchased over the counter may be placed.

In the modification of Fig. 3 the integral foldable cover section 10 of the pack has been 7 'of the bulbs to swing laterally and strike against one .another during shipment.

the plane of the sheet, each pocket providing a narrow portion at one end and a wider portion at its other end, and the narow portions of the pockets being elevated above the plane of the sheet a distance such that 'frustoconical articles of a size to fit the pockets will be positioned in the pockets with the tops of their narrow portions .and the tops of their wider portions positioned in a. plane substantially parallel to the plane of the sheet for contact by a cover element placed over the articles whereby the articles will be pressed down into and held within the pockets.

WALTER H. RANDALL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS, 

